JP5071804B2 - Assembly structure for the front end of an instrument panel for a vehicle - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a structure for assembling a front end portion of a vehicle instrument panel to a vehicle body panel.

  As a structure in which a front end portion of an instrument panel is assembled to a vehicle body panel (a cowl top panel) that extends along the lower end of a front window of a vehicle, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-133826 has a grommet attached to a reinforcing member of an instrument panel. A structure for fitting the grommet to a pin protruding from a cowl top panel is disclosed.

  However, the assembly structure disclosed in Patent Document 1 requires labor for attaching a grommet made of an elastic material such as rubber to the engagement hole formed in the reinforcing member of the instrument panel, and is Since a hole with a small grommet is fitted to the pin at a position hidden on the side, the assembly workability in the line process was poor.

  On the other hand, in Patent Document 2 by the present applicant, a trumpet-shaped bush is attached to a mounting hole formed in the cowl top panel, and a pin protruding from the front end portion of the instrument panel is inserted into the bush. A locking assembly structure is disclosed. However, in this structure, it is necessary to prepare a specially-shaped bush, and in addition to the complicated mounting operation for press-fitting the engaging claw formed on the bush into the mounting hole, Since the bush is configured to be supported by the thickness of the panel plate at the opening edge of the mounting hole, there is a problem that the bush tends to tilt when the pin is inserted.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-128524 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-254999

  The present invention has been made in view of such a state of the prior art, and the object thereof is an inexpensive and simple structure using general-purpose parts, yet excellent in assemblability, and supporting strength and vibration damping properties. Another object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle instrument panel front end assembling structure which is excellent.

In order to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, the present invention provides:
An assembly structure of an instrument panel front end portion to a vehicle body panel extending along a lower end of a front window of a vehicle, and a plurality of locking members disposed apart from each other in the vehicle width direction on the vehicle body panel; In a thing provided with the to-be-latched part arranged in the instrument panel front end part corresponding to each above-mentioned locking member,
Each locking member is composed of a bolt projecting with a tip screw portion facing the rear of the vehicle, and a soft resin cap attached to the tip screw portion of the bolt. Is formed of a socket-shaped part that is integrally formed with the instrument panel and opens toward the front of the vehicle , and the introduction part of each socket-shaped part is expanded downward, and from the lower edge of the introduction part An inclined guide surface that extends to the bottom surface on the back side is formed, and the back part of each socket-shaped part is fitted and locked to each bolt tip screw part via the cap .

Since this invention is comprised as mentioned above, it has an effect as described below.
(1) By using bolts of general-purpose parts as a locking member on the vehicle body side, it is possible to reduce the parts cost while ensuring sufficient support strength, and it is possible to cope with changes in models and layouts only by changing the bolts. .
(2) Soft resin caps that are used in combination with bolts are inexpensive and can be easily attached to the threaded end of the bolt. Can be locked.
(3) By attaching a soft resin cap to the bolt, there is no risk of damage even if a locking member (bolt) collides with the edge of the socket-shaped part on the instrument panel side during assembly, Stable assembly can be performed by moderate friction on the cap surface.
(4) Combined with the configuration of the locking member, the socket-shaped portion is integrally formed with the instrument panel, so that the locked portion of the instrument panel is paired with the locking member of the vehicle body panel. In addition to improving the assemblability, it is advantageous for securing the positional accuracy of both.
(5) In the assembled state, the soft resin cap is interposed between the bolt and the socket-shaped portion, so that vibration between members is suppressed, and generation of abnormal noise and damage between the members can be prevented. Also, by attaching a soft resin cap, the diameter of the locking member (bolt) is increased, and the contact area with the socket-shaped part increases, so that a large locking force can be applied without imposing a burden on the socket-shaped part. There are also advantages that can be obtained.

  In the present invention, each socket-shaped portion has a basic shape in which the opening width in the vehicle width direction is wider than the opening width in the vertical direction substantially equal to the diameter of each locking member, and at least one In the aspect in which the back side of the two socket-shaped portions is narrowed to the opening width in the vehicle width direction substantially equal to the diameter of each locking member, the front end portion of the instrument panel is positioned with reference to the at least one socket-shaped portion. By assembling, the error of the position in the vehicle width direction can be absorbed without impairing the assembling property of the socket-shaped portion, and the thermal expansion and contraction accompanying the temperature change can be absorbed.

  In the present invention, in the aspect in which the narrowed portion of the at least one socket-shaped portion is defined by a pair of ribs protruding inwardly from both inner side surfaces of the socket-shaped portion, the pair of ribs are locked. By abutting the member from both sides, it is possible to restrain the position in the vehicle width direction without difficulty, and a pair of ribs provide a reinforcement structure for the socket-shaped side wall, ensuring the strength of the socket-shaped section with a greater load than the others. Is advantageous.

  In the present invention, in the aspect in which the introduction portion of each socket-shaped portion is expanded downward and an inclined guide surface is formed from the lower edge of the introduction portion to the bottom surface on the back side, the instrument is finally provided. With the support position accuracy of the upper surface of the socket-shaped part receiving the load at the front end of the panel secured, the locking member is easily caught by the expanded guide surface on the lower surface of the socket-shaped part, and securely and smoothly to the fitting position It can be introduced and the assemblability can be further improved.

  In the present invention, each socket-shaped portion is disposed to be spaced downward from the lower surface of the front end portion via a connecting rib extending from the lower surface of the front end portion of the instrument panel, and the front end of the connecting rib. In an aspect in which the edge extends obliquely from the upper edge of the introduction portion of each socket-shaped portion toward the upper front side, there is no sink mark or the like during molding on the upper surface (design surface) of the front end portion of the instrument panel. A strong socket-shaped portion can be integrally formed, and the front end edge of the connecting rib can prevent the locking member from entering the gap between the instrument panel front-end portion and the socket-shaped portion during assembly.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an assembly state of an instrument panel 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention to a vehicle body 1. In the figure, a dash panel 11 that partitions an engine room and a vehicle compartment is disposed in a vehicle body 1 portion to which an instrument panel 2 is assembled, and both side portions of the dash panel 11 constitute a part of the side wall of the vehicle body. It is joined to the cowl side panels 12 and 12.

  The cowl side panels 12, 12 have a front edge that defines part of the wheel arch of the front wheel, while a rear edge defines a part of the door opening, An A-pillar joint 12a (not shown) is provided. A cowl top panel 13 extending along the lower end of a front window (not shown) is joined to the upper edge of the dash panel 11 and the inner side surfaces of the left and right cowl side panels 12, 12. 13, the front end 21 of the instrument panel 2 is assembled.

  The cowl top panel 13 is provided with five locking members 3 spaced apart in the vehicle width direction, while the front end portion 21 of the instrument panel 2 has five points corresponding to the locking members 3. The to-be-latched part 4 is formed. The instrument panel 2 is pre-assembled in a steering support member 14 extending in the vehicle width direction inside thereof, and each locked portion 4 of the instrument panel 2 constituting such an assembly is connected to the cowl top panel. 13, the front end 21 is positioned and held by locking the locking members 3, and then both ends (brackets) of the steering support member 14 are screwed to the cowl side panels 12, 12 with bolts 15, 15. As a result, final fixing is performed.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cowl top panel 13 on which the locking member 3 according to the embodiment of the present invention is projected from the rear left side of the vehicle. In the figure, the locking member 3 is a step of the cowl top panel 13. A bolt 31 is provided on the portion 13 a so that the tip screw portion projects toward the rear of the vehicle, and a cap 32 is attached to the tip screw portion of the bolt 31.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the bolt 31 is a weld bolt having a flat bolt head at one end of a bolt shaft portion where a screw is cut, and the mounting hole drilled in the cowl top panel 13 is inserted into the mounting hole of the panel. The bolt shaft portion is inserted from the back side, and the periphery of the bolt head contacting the back surface of the cowl top panel 13 is welded and fixed. The step portion 13 a of the cowl top panel 13 has a basic shape curved in an arc shape in plan view, but the mounting seat surface in which the mounting holes for the bolts 31 are drilled is orthogonal to the axial direction of the bolts 31. Pressed on a flat surface. In some cases, a protrusion is provided on the seating surface of the bolt head.

  The cap 32 is made of a soft resin molded product, and has moderate elasticity, flexibility, and buffering properties, but has strength and impact resistance that do not easily break. Therefore, the cap 32 is expanded along the threaded shaft portion of the bolt 31 and can be easily attached to the bolt shaft portion. On the other hand, when the cap 32 is attached to the bolt shaft portion, Since the inner surface of the cap 32 is recessed, the cap 32 is not easily removed.

  Next, FIG. 3 shows one locked portion 4 (A) disposed at the center in the vehicle width direction among the five locked portions 4 disposed at the front end 21 of the instrument panel 2. FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing a locked state of the locked portion 4. In the figure, the locked portion 4 is composed of a socket-shaped portion 41 integrally formed on the lower surface side of the front end portion 21 of the instrument panel 2.

  The socket-shaped portion 41 is disposed so as to face the locking member 3, has a box-shaped basic shape that opens toward the front of the vehicle, and the bottom portion is integrally connected to the lower surface of the instrument panel 2 via the bracket 43. And the upper wall part is integrally connected with the lower surface of the instrument panel 2 via the two connection ribs 44. As shown in FIG. Therefore, the socket-shaped portion 41 itself is disposed to be spaced downward from the lower surface of the instrument panel front end portion 21 via the bracket 43 and the connecting rib 44.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the opening end portion of each socket-shaped portion 41, that is, the introduction portion is expanded downward, and an inclined guide surface 41 a extending from the lower end edge of the introduction portion to the bottom surface on the back side is provided. Is formed. With this configuration, when the instrument panel front end 21 is assembled, even if the socket-shaped portion 41 is hidden on the lower surface of the instrument panel 2, the guide surface 41a can easily catch the tip of the locking member 3 and smoothly. It can be guided to the fitting position of the socket-shaped portion 41. If the guide surface 41a of any one of the socket-shaped portions 41 fails to catch the locking member 3, the guide surface 41a rides on the upper side of the locking member 3 so that the instrument panel front end portion 21 of the portion concerned. Since it floats extremely, it can be easily discriminated visually that the assembly is defective.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the front end edges of the two connecting ribs 44 extend obliquely from the upper edge of the introduction portion of the socket-shaped portion 41 toward the upper front. With this configuration, when the instrument panel front end portion 21 is assembled, the locking member 3 can be prevented from entering between the lower surface of the instrument panel 2 and the upper wall portion of the socket shape portion 41. It can be reliably guided to the fitting position.

  The socket-shaped portion 41 is formed so that the opening width in the vehicle width direction is wider than the opening width in the vertical direction that is substantially equal to the diameter of the locking member 3 described above (the diameter considering the tolerance of the interference fit to the diameter of the cap 32). It has a slightly flat rectangular basic cross-sectional shape. Further, of the five socket-shaped portions 41, the socket-shaped portion 41 of the locked portion 4 (A) disposed at the center in the vehicle width direction is the socket-shaped portion 41 as shown in FIG. A pair of ribs 42, 42 projecting inwardly from both inner side surfaces of the two members 42, 42, and these ribs 42, 42 define a constricted portion substantially equal to the diameter of the locking member 3.

  With the configuration of each socket shape portion 41, in the state where the socket shape portion 41 is fitted and locked to the locking member 3, the vertical position of each socket shape portion 41 is regulated by the locking member 3. The position in the width direction of the socket-shaped portion 41 of the locked portion 4 (A) disposed at the center in the vehicle width direction is regulated by the ribs 42, 42 and the locking member 3, while the other four The socket-shaped portion 41 of the locked portion 4 (B) is movable in the vehicle width direction with respect to the locking member 3 by the opening width.

  Thus, the position in the vehicle width direction can be regulated with reference to the socket-shaped portion 41 at the center in the vehicle width direction without impairing the assembling property of the instrument panel 2, and the position accuracy can be ensured and disposed on both sides thereof. The other socket-shaped portion 41 can absorb thermal expansion, thermal contraction, and dimensional error of the instrument panel 2 due to temperature change, and improve the matching quality with peripheral parts.

  In the configuration of the locking member 3 and the locked portion 4 as described above, a relatively inexpensive general-purpose component bolt 31 (weld bolt) is used for the locking member 3 on the vehicle body 1 side, so that the component cost and The mold cost can be reduced. In addition, since the length of the bolt 31 can be easily changed, it can be applied to various models. Further, the locking member 3 by the bolt 31 can obtain a sufficient support strength in a small space as compared with the conventional method, and the flexibility of layout is improved, so that it is possible to cope with various body shapes and layouts. .

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, it is possible to minimize the area of the notch portion that avoids the locking member 3 with respect to the silencer pad 5 (dash insulator) attached to the dash panel 11. This is also advantageous for ensuring quietness. Further, the structure in which the cap 32 made of a soft resin is interposed between the socket-shaped portion 41 on the instrument panel 2 side and the bolt 31 on the vehicle body 1 side, so that vibration on the vehicle body 1 side is insulated by the cap 32, Generation of abnormal noise on the panel 2 side and resin damage on the contact surface with the socket-shaped portion 41 can be prevented.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made based on the technical idea of the present invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the five locking members 3 and the locked portions 4 are disposed apart from each other in the vehicle width direction is shown. The number of installations and the interval can be arbitrarily set. Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the case where two connection ribs 44 were formed in each socket shape part 41 was shown, one or three or more connection ribs 44 may be formed.

It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the assembly | attachment condition to the vehicle body of the instrument panel concerning this invention embodiment. It is the perspective view which looked at the cowl top panel where the latching member of the embodiment of the present invention was projected from the back diagonally left of the vehicle. It is a principal part perspective view which shows the to-be-latched part of this invention embodiment. It is a sectional side view which shows the state which fitted the to-be-latched part of this invention embodiment to the locking member by the side of a vehicle body. (A) is a front view which shows the to-be-latched part arrange | positioned in the vehicle width direction center part, (b) is a front view which shows another to-be-latched part.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Car body 2 Instrument panel 3 Locking member 4 Locked part 11 Dash panel 13 Cowl top panel (vehicle body panel)
14 Steering member 21 Front end 31 Bolt 32 Cap 41 Socket-shaped part 41a Guide surface 42 Rib 43 Bracket 44 Connecting rib

Claims (4)

An assembly structure of an instrument panel front end portion to a vehicle body panel extending along a lower end of a front window of a vehicle, and a plurality of locking members disposed apart from each other in the vehicle width direction on the vehicle body panel; In a thing provided with the to-be-latched part arranged in the instrument panel front end part corresponding to each above-mentioned locking member,
Each locking member is composed of a bolt projecting with a tip screw portion facing the rear of the vehicle, and a soft resin cap attached to the tip screw portion of the bolt. Is formed of a socket-shaped part that is integrally formed with the instrument panel and opens toward the front of the vehicle , and the introduction part of each socket-shaped part is expanded downward, and from the lower edge of the introduction part An inclined guide surface that extends to the bottom surface on the back side is formed, and the back part of each socket-shaped part is fitted and locked to each bolt tip screw part via the cap. Instrument panel front end assembly structure.   Each socket-shaped portion has a basic shape in which an opening width in the vehicle width direction is formed wider than an opening width in the vertical direction substantially equal to the diameter of each locking member, and at least one socket-shaped portion 2. The vehicle instrument panel front end assembly structure according to claim 1, wherein a rear side of the vehicle is narrowed to an opening width in a vehicle width direction substantially equal to a diameter of each of the locking members.   3. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the narrowed portion of the at least one socket-shaped portion is defined by a pair of ribs projecting inwardly from both inner side surfaces of the socket-shaped portion. Instrument panel front end assembly structure. Each of the socket-shaped portions is arranged to be spaced downward from the lower surface of the front end portion via a connecting rib extending from the lower surface of the front end portion of the instrument panel, and the front end edge of the connecting rib is The instrument panel front end assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the assembly extends obliquely from the upper edge of the introduction portion of each socket-shaped portion toward the upper front. Construction.

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